PRISM Tool

PRISM (Priority Setting for Innovation in the Health System) is a strategic tool that identifies and prioritizes Thailand’s most pressing health challenges by analyzing both disease and financial burdens on the healthcare system. Its goal is to guide innovation development and inform policy decisions to build a more efficient and impactful health innovation ecosystem.

PRISM

Disease Burden vs. Health Expenditure
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The annual average of reimbursement expenditure year 2016 - 2021 (million THB/year)
Total DALYs (million years)

Various disease groups

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Category Name: A - W
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A. HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections
B. Respiratory infections and tuberculosis
C. Enteric infections
D. Neglected tropical diseases and malaria
E. Other infectious diseases
F. Maternal and neonatal disorders
G. Nutritional deficiencies
H. Neoplasms
I. Cardiovascular diseases
J. Chronic respiratory diseases
K. Digestive diseases
L. Neurological disorders
M. Mental disorders
N. Substance use disorders
O. Diabetes and kidney diseases
P. Skin and subcutaneous diseases
Q. Sense organ diseases
R. Musculoskeletal disorders
S. Other non-communicable diseases
T. Transport injuries
U. Unintentional injuries
V. Self-harm and interpersonal violence
W. Others
More details
(A.) HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections
Total DALYs :
528,345
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
19,160.50
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
356,898,715.67
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
28,490.5
Number of innovations : 12 items
(B.) Respiratory infections and tuberculosis
Total DALYs :
647,732
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
546,606.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
9,751,062,459.33
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
658,209.0
Number of innovations : 8 items
(C.) Enteric infections
Total DALYs :
82,591
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
295,928.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
986,896,005.33
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
317,237.2
Number of innovations : 0 items
(D.) Neglected tropical diseases and malaria
Total DALYs :
11,543
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
97,625.70
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
361,344,442.00
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
101,833.2
Number of innovations : 4 items
(E.) Other infectious diseases
Total DALYs :
100,207
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
107,008.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
1,384,893,800.17
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
119,584.5
Number of innovations : 69 items
(F.) Maternal and neonatal disorders
Total DALYs :
277,940
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
531,590.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
4,395,582,735.17
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
635,198.2
Number of innovations : 1 items
(G.) Nutritional deficiencies
Total DALYs :
37,882
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
9,257.83
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
60,245,448.33
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
10,206.8
Number of innovations : 5 items
(H.) Neoplasms
Total DALYs :
3,103,611
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
143,482.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
7,063,794,070.50
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
352,135.7
Number of innovations : 3 items
(I.) Cardiovascular diseases
Total DALYs :
3,325,891
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
337,740.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
11,868,557,416.33
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
481,157.5
Number of innovations : 81 items
(J.) Chronic respiratory diseases
Total DALYs :
389,188
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
137,360.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
2,358,178,965.17
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
221,411.2
Number of innovations : 31 items
(K.) Digestive diseases
Total DALYs :
1,122,114
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
379,889.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
5,292,984,963.83
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
470,105.5
Number of innovations : 14 items
(L.) Neurological disorders
Total DALYs :
540,313
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
59,316.80
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
669,279,475.00
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
74,781.0
Number of innovations : 67 items
(M.) Mental disorders
Total DALYs :
397,637
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
47,093.80
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
751,178,679.50
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
67,293.8
Number of innovations : 18 items
(N.) Substance use disorders
Total DALYs :
414,634
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
47,023.30
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
402,308,129.17
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
57,150.7
Number of innovations : 1 items
(O.) Diabetes and kidney diseases
Total DALYs :
2,092,961
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
139,065.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
1,731,859,672.33
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
225,115.7
Number of innovations : 30 items
(P.) Skin and subcutaneous diseases
Total DALYs :
328,076
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
125,716.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
1,256,126,549.00
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
141,164.8
Number of innovations : 35 items
(Q.) Sense organ diseases
Total DALYs :
264,284
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
160,266.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
1,687,958,148.00
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
184,020.2
Number of innovations : 8 items
(R.) Musculoskeletal disorders
Total DALYs :
584,240
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
110,368.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
3,156,911,742.83
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
134,572.8
Number of innovations : 49 items
(S.) Other non-communicable diseases
Total DALYs :
992,332
Average number of patients
2016 - 2021 (persons/year) :
399,694.00
Average reimbursement cost
2016 - 2021 (baht/year) :
4,771,478,988.67
Average number of service visits
2016 - 2021 (times/year) :
577,985.5
Number of innovations : 44 items
(T.) Transport injuries
Total DALYs :
1,840,927
Number of innovations : 0 items
(U.) Unintentional injuries
Total DALYs :
906,905
Number of innovations : 0 items
(V.) Self-harm and interpersonal violence
Total DALYs :
558,743
Number of innovations : 0 items

About this Study

This study explores critical gaps in Thailand’s healthcare system by analyzing public healthcare expenditure and disease burden data. Using inpatient statistics from the National Health Security Office (NHSO)— which oversees health coverage for the majority of the Thai population— the research team assessed healthcare expenditure alongside disease burden data from the Global Burden of Disease study and the published Burden of Disease Thailand by the International Health Policy Program Foundation (iHPP). The analysis used Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) to identify key public-health pain points and unmet needs across disease areas.
The study also mapped existing health innovations from the Thai Innovation List against disease burden categories, providing insights that can guide future innovation prioritization and policy planning.
Please note: this analysis is based on inpatient data only (2016–2021) and does not include outpatient data, costs from the Social Security Scheme, the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme, or services provided by private healthcare facilities. Regional disparities in healthcare delivery were also not within the scope of this study.

What Are DALYs?

Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) are a global metric used to quantify the burden of disease. They combine:
  • Years of life lost (YLL) due to premature death
  • Years lived with disability (YLD) due to illness or injury
DALYs reflect the total number of healthy years lost, providing a standardized way to compare the impact of diseases and conditions across populations.

What Is the Thai Innovation List?

The Thai Innovation List, launched in 2015, is a strategic initiative designed to promote local innovation and support Thai entrepreneurs. Managed by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the Budget Bureau, the list provides a government-endorsed pathway for targeted public procurement of registered Thai innovations. As of 2025, medical and health-related products account for over 54.4% of the innovations listed.
To qualify as a “Thai innovation,” a product or service must be developed or significantly improved using scientific and technological knowledge, with participation from Thai individuals or organizations. These innovations must undergo rigorous testing and certification to ensure safety and reliability. While they may include imported components, the core innovation must demonstrate clear local involvement and value creation.